Dead Poet's Society ... 21st Century Learning and Teaching

Click on the links below and be inspired to, as a wonderful teacher (Liz A.) says, "Give yourself permission"

Dead Poet's Society - Oh Captain, My Captain!

One of the best scenes in a movie. Watch this clip, then watch the clip below ... After that, go rent the movie and watch it - you’ll see where 21st century learning and teaching can go. The main character, (Mr. Keating) played by Robin Williams is a 21st Century teacher and incredible that this movie was made oh soooo many years ago. What a fantastic performance by Robin Williams in this film - and the purpose and meaning behind it is a foundation, a mind-set and a paradigm shift that as a teacher I held to because I had a wonderful Grade 8 teacher, Mrs. MacKenzie - she was my Mr. Keating. 

This movie is a reminder for us to do an ordinary thing extraordinarily well – bring a little bit of YOU into teaching and make the curriculum THE KIDS (put them into learning).

Imagine where you can go with some creativity, personal and relevant experiences, passion, motivation, authentic meaning, critical thinking, communication, collaboration, imagination, and just as important FUN! I can’t tell you how to do – Nike’s slogan from so many years ago still resonates passionately with me – Just do it!

Dead Poet's Society: 1st Day of Class

"Gather ye rosebuds while ye may" - Mr. Keating

"Carpe...Carpe diem...Seize the day...Make your lives extraordinary." -- Mr. Keating

"In my class you will learn to think for yourselves again. You will learn to savor words and language. No matter what anybody tells you words and ideas can change the world." -- Mr. Keating

"Why do I stand up here... I stand upon my desk to remind myself that we must constantly look at things in a different way...Just when you think you know something you have to look at it in another way even though it may seem silly or wrong you must try. Now when you read don't just consider what the author thinks, consider what you think. You must strive to find your own voice because the longer you wait to begin, the less likely you are to find it at all. Thoreau said most men lead lives of quiet desperation. Don't be rescind to that. Breakout." -- Mr. Keating

Wow - This movie asks us (students and teachers) to go for it, have a voice, step outside the box, and strive to remind yourself and your students to "never forget this."

Now, go watch the whole movie ... and catch a glimpse of where we're going!